Ice bin of refrigerator
US7422168B2 · kind B2 · utility
4Cited by
5References
7Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S241/17
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ice dispenser apparatus includes an ice bin to receive ice cubes; a shutter mechanism located near a bottom of the ice bin to selectively dispense ice cubes or crushed ice; an ice crusher located above the shutter mechanism to crush ice cubes into crushed ice; and an ice discharge controller located adjacent to the ice crusher and having a structure to selectively provide a certain amount of ice cubes onto the shutter mechanism and to effectively minimize an undesirable accumulation of ice near the ice crusher that may cause interference during operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.